Beverage dispensing apparatus



July 14, 1959 Filed 'Dec. 3. 1956 H. E. SHIKLES, JR., ET AL BEVERAGEDISPENSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Horace E. ShIkIesJnW BYLoye E. Waf/s.

ATTORNEYS.

July 14, 1959 H. E. SHIKLES, JR., ET AL 2,894,377

BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2htI/ace E. 5/7/7r/es,J/: and a 1a 7a /7 68 By Loye E. Watts.

W MW

ATTOR/VE Y5.

July 14, 1959 H. E. SHlKLE S, JR, ET AL 2,894,377

BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 94 3Lad/12 //4 6 l E Z 20 .93 $192 7 2 l [as 9 I INVENTOR,

-i- ,//5- ATTORNEYS.

July 14, 1959 H. SHIKLES, JR, ET AL 2,894,377

BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 3, 1956INVENTOR. Horace E. ShIk/e JM BY LOye E. Wazfs.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Horace E.Shikles, Jr., Leawood, Kans., and Loye E. Watts, Blue Springs, M0.

Application December 3, 1956, Serial No. 625,779

Claims. (Cl. 62--306) This invention relates to beverage dispensingapparatus, and particularly to a novel dispensing apparatus in whichwater or carbonated water or a mixed beverage comprising syrup and watercomponents is cooled and dispensed into a cup or other suitablereceptacle.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a beveragedispensing apparatus in which syrup and water components are storedseparately and maintained in a cooled condition until the dispensingmechanism is actuated whereon cooled water or carbonated water or syrupand water components are selectively dclivered to a receptacle, thesyrup and water components being delivered simultaneously inpredetermined proportions to the receptacle for a post-mix thereof; toprovide such a beverage dispensing apparatus with a plurality of syrupcontainers for dispensing any one of several flavors as selected by theconsumer; to provide a post-mix carbonated beverage dispenser wherein awater receptacle, car bonator, syrup containers, dispensing valves andmetering devices are in a compact unit adapted to 'be installed in aconventional refrigerator or other refrigerated housing and occupy aminimum of space yet have a large capacity with the water and gaspressure and supply and controls therefor in a second compact unitselectively remote from said first compact unit for ease of installationand service thereof; to provide such a beverage dispensing apparatuswherein the components thereof may be housed as a self-contained unit orin separated compact units for suitable disposition in refrigerators,counters, cabinets and the like for conservation of space andconvenience of use; to provide such a beverage dispensing apparatuswherein the syrup containers are in a housing and the syrup maintainedunder pressure and the. pressure lines thereof automatically closed uponopening of the housing for replacement or otherwise servicing the syrupor other units in said housing; to provide such a beverage dispensingapparatus including a housing enclosing syrup containers and acarbonator with a removable portion containing dispensing valves andmetering devices wherein the housing portions have cooperativepositioning structure for supporting and holding the syrup containersand separable flow line connections therefor that are automaticallyclosed upon removal of one housing portion from the other; and toprovide such a beverage dispensing apparatus that is economical tomanufacture, easily installed, that has a large capacity yet occupies aminimum of usable space and that is safe and efiicient in operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, wehave provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical view of a beverage dispensing apparatusembodying the features of the present invention with a portion thereofinside of the food compartment of a conventional refrigerator.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the housing enclosingthe syrup containers, carbonator and dispensing valves, taken on theline 2-2, Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the syrup containerhousing taken on the line 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the syrup containerhousing taken on the line 44, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the syrup containerhousing taken on the line 55, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the syrup container housing with thedispensing valve portion thereof in housing opening position withportions broken away to illustrate the flow line connectors.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the syrup containers, carbonator,dispensing valves and flow lines therefor.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit for the controlsof the dispensing apparatus.

Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view of a refrigerator showing amodified form of the beverage dispensing apparatus wherein the deliveryportion thereof is mounted in the refrigerator door.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view through a refrigerator with themodified form of dispensing apparatus therein.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the flow duct connectors.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The beverage dispensing apparatus for convenience of illustration anddescription includes a gas and water supply unit 1, a cooled storageunit 2 and a delivery unit 3 suitably arranged and connected whereby aconsumer may selectively obtain cold water, cold carbonated water andany one of several flavors of carbonated lbeverages. All of thesecomponents may 'be arranged in a self-contained unit or may be separatedin order to occupy a minimum of usable space. V

In the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, the

supply unit 1 and cooled storage unit 2 are separated.

The supply unit 1 preferably consists of a housing 4 having a suitablemotor 5 therein operatively connected with a pump 6 having its inlet 7connected by a flow line 8 with a source of water such as the usualwater service in a building.

The discharge of the pump 6 is connected by a water pressure line 9 to acoil 10 in the cooled liquid storage unit 2, with the outlet of saidcoil 10 connected as at 11 to an inlet 12 of a carbonated water tank 13for delivery of cooled water thereto. A branch 14 connects the watersupply pipe 8 with the pressure line 9 to by-pass the pump 6, the flowthrough the by-pass being controlled by a valve 15 as later described. Abranch 16 has communication with the Water coil 10 adjacent the outletend thereof and leads to a discharge valve 17 which controls flow of thewater through a delivery pipe 18. The valves 15 and 17 are preferably ofa conventional solenoid type and arranged in electric circuit connectedwith a suitable source of current whereby closing of a switch 19energizes the solenoids 20 and 21 of the valves 15 and 17 respectivelyto simultaneously open said valves for flow of water from the source ofsupply through the flow line 8, valve 15, branch or by-pass 14, flowline 9, coil 10, branch 16, valve 17 and delivery pipe 18, the valves 15and 17 being of a type that when the switch is in circuit breakingposition, the valves are closed.

Included in the gas and water supply unit 1 is a. cylinder 22 of carbondioxide gas under high pressure. In the illustrated structure, thecylinder is supported by suitable clamps 23 on the side of the-housing4;

however, it may be; placed inside of the housing' 4' or 'electriccircuit to the motor is broken.

, a housing having an open front 46.

other suitable location for convenience of servicing. The cylinder has avalve controlled outlet 24 of conventional structure connected with thegas pressure line 25 having .a'suitable gauge 26 therein to show thepressure of the gas remaining in the cylinder. The pressure line 25 isconnected with the inlet of a pressure reducer 27 and flow regulator tomaintain on the discharge side a gas pressure of preferably 90 to 100pounds per square inch. The discharge side of pressure regulator isconnected by a flow line 28 which leads to the carbonated water tank 13and is connected thereto as at 29 for suitably supplying carbon dioxidegas thereto at the pressure .set by the regulator 27. A branch gas line30 is connected with the flow line 28 and has a pressure reducer orregulator 31 therein whereby the gas pressure at the discharge side ofsaid reducer is preferably of from to 8 pounds per square inch. Thebranch line 30 is connected with a manifold line 32 for use as laterdescribed.

The carbonated water tank is of conventional strucrture adapted toreceive water from a positive displacernenttype pump 6 capable ofdeveloping a pressure of more than 100 pounds, or more than the pressurenormally prevailing in the carbonated water tank 13, whereby the carbondioxide gas and water are both delivered to the tank 13, the waterpreferably being sprayed into the tank which is provided with a suitablemaximum and minimum water level control arranged in an electric circuitwhereby when the water in the carbonated water tank reaches apredetermined minimum, the electric motor 5 is energized to drive thepump 6 to supply additional water to the tank 33 until the water levelreaches a predetermined maximum at which time the The discharge pipe 34extends in the carbonated water tank and terminates adjacent the bottomthereof, said pipe 34 leading to a valve 35 which controls the deliveryof carbonated -water through a delivery pipe 36. The electrical controlsfor the carbonated Water tank are preferably arranged in the gas andwater supply unit 1, and the delivery valve 35 arranged in the deliveryunit 3 as later described.

7 In the post-mixing of carbonated beverages, it is preferable that thewater component should be carbonated just prior to being used, and thatboth the water component and the syrup component be cooled orrefrigerated to a temperature sufficiently low to produce a palatabledrink. Also, the carbonated water tank should be maintained at a lowtemperature to insure adequate carbonation or absorption of the gas inthe water and retention of the gas therein. The carbonated "water tank13 and a plurality of syrup containers 37 and 38 are contained in thecooled liquid storage unit 2, and in the form of the inventionillustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the delivery unit or dispensinghead 3 is connected with said storage unit 2 as a composite unit adaptedto be mounted in a frefrigerated compartment 39 of a conventionalrefrigerator 40 or other refrigerated container or cabinet. In theillustrated structure, the cooled liquid storage unit 2 includes ahousing 41 having a bottom wall 42, side walls 43, rear wall 44, and topwall 45 of sheet metal or the like of relatively high heat conductivityconnected together to provide In the illustrated structure, the top wall45 is removable and is secured to the side and rear walls by suitablefastening devices 47. Suitable hangers 48 are arranged on the top wall,and arranged to cooperate with brackets 49 suitably secured to therefrigerator wall for removably mounting the housing 41. therein. Thehangers 48 and brackets 49 may be arranged on any of the walls forconvenience of installation in the refrigerated cabinet.

The carbonated water tank 13 rests on the bottom wall 42 adjacent therear wall 44 and the water coil '10 encircles the carbonated water tank,as illustrated 4 in Fig. 2, and serves as a supply reservoir of cooledwater therefor. The flow lines 9, 28 and 30, preferably extend through awall of the refrigerator and through an opening 59 in the rear wall 44of the housing 41 for convenience of connection.

The syrup containers 37 and 38 are preferably rectangular in crosssection and of suitable size whereby one may be placed beside the otherin the width of the housing 41 forwardly of the carbonated water tank13. In the illustrated structure, a syrup container support 51 isarranged in the housing 41 and includes a. platform 52 supported on legs53 resting on the bottom wall 42 of the housing 41, the side legsengaging the side walls 43 of the housing to prevent lateral movementthereof, said platform having an inclined portion 54 which slopesforwardly and downwardly and terminates in a shoulder 55 adjacent theforward end of the housing. Vertical ribs 56 extend upwardly from theplatform 52 and downwardly from the top wall 45 of the housing 41.' Theribs 56 are preferably substantially midway between the side walls 43and extend partially between the containers 37 V and 38 to aid inpositioning said containers. A stop plate 57 is suitably mounted in thehousing 41 to engage the rear walls 58 of the syrup containers 37 and38. In the illustrated structure, the stop plate 57 is fixed to theforward upper portion of the coil 10 as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Thesyrup containers 37 and 38 are of a width whereby the side walls 59thereof will engage the side walls 43 and the vertical ribs 56 and of alength whereby when the rear walls 58 of the syrup containers engage thestop plate 57 the bottom of the front wall 60 will engage the shoulder55. The syrup containers are preferably of a heighth that they willslide into the housing 41 over the forward portion of the platform 52and rest on the inclined portion 54 with the upper rear of said syrupcontainers substantially engaging the top wall 45, as illustrated inFig. 2. The platform 52 is in spaced relation to the bottom wall 42 ofthe housing and the forward and rearward legs 53 have openings 61therein for the flow 'lines 16, 30 and 34, and electrical conduitsleading from the delivery unit along with the flow lines through theopening 50 and refrigerator wall to the supply unit 1 and source ofelectric current.

The syrup containers 37 and 38 each have spaced connectors 62 and 63connected thereto, the connector 62 having communication with a duct 64that extends into and terminates in the upper portion of the respectivesyrup container, and the connector 63 having communication with a duct65 that extends into the syrup container and terminates adjacent thebottom wall thereof. The manifold 32 has connector members 66 adapted tobe engaged with the respective connector members 62 whereby low pressuregas is delivered to the upper portion of the syrup containers to applypressure on the syrup therein, tending to force the syrup through therespective ducts 65. The syrup container 37 is arranged for theconnector unit 63 thereof to be connected with a connector member 67 ona flow line 68 leading to a valve 69 for controlling delivery through adelivery pipe 70. The connector unit 63 of the syrup container 38 isadapted to be engaged with a connector member 71 on a flow line 72leading to a control valve 73 which controls delivery through a deliverypipe 74. The connectors 62, 63, 6 6, 67 and 71 are each preferably ofthe type illustrated in Fig. 11 wherein the connectors 62 and 63 sleeveinto sockets 71' of the respective connectors 66, 67 and 71 and seat asat 71". Each of the connectors have a valve 74' therein whichautomatically closes when the connectors are separated and areautomatically opened by engagement of the valve extensions 74" when theconnectors are united as illustrated in Fig. 11, whereby there can beflow through the connector "members only when the respective connectorsare properlyjoined together. In the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to6 inclusive, the delivery unit or dispensing head 3 is hingedlyconnected as at 75 with the forward portion of the housing 41 wherebythe delivery unit may be swung to and from a position closing theforward opening 46 of said housing 41.

The delivery unit or dispensing head 3 includes a housing 76 having abottom wall 77 hingedly connected to the bottom wall 42 of the housing41. The delivery unit housing also includes side walls 78 provided withrear offset double folded portions 79 forming rearwardly opening grooves79' for receiving the forward ends of the side walls 43 of the housing41. The top wall 80 of the housing 76 extends under an extension 81 onthe top wall 45 and is resiliently engaged thereby to form a springlatch tending to hold the housing 76 in closing position relative to thehousing 41. A rear wall 82 is arranged in the housing 76 adjacent theoffset in the side walls and connectors 66, 67 and 71 are securedthereto in a position to align with the respective connector members ofthe containers 37 and 38, the cooperative engagement of the side wallsof the containers and housings aiding in maintaining alignment of theconnector members on the respective portions of the apparatus. Thehousing 76 has a front wall 83 extending upwardly from the forward endof the bottom wall 77 and has an offset portion 83 which cooperates withextensions on the side walls 78 and top wall 80 to provide a forwardextension 84 on the housing 76, said forward wall 83 being spaced fromthe rear wall 82 sufliciently to provide for enclosing of the valves 17,35, 69 and 73, and the flow pipes leading to and from same. The deliverypipes 18, 36, 70 and 74 each extend into the extension of the housingand through the bottom thereof and terminate in spigot portions 85 thatare closely positioned substantially midway the width thereof wherebyall will discharge into a single glass positioned therebelow.

The glass or drinking receptacle 86 is adapted to rest on a removableshelf 87 suitably mounted on the front wall 83 and preferably arrangedto form a water-receiving trough 88 and a removable perforated member 89which will permit any drippage to pass into the trough.

Suitable switches 90 are mounted in the housing extension with controlbuttons 91 extending through the forward face thereof for controllingthe respective valves as later described. The valves 17, 35, 69 and 73are preferably solenoid valves having windings 21, 92, 9-3 and 94respectively, connected in circuit, as illustrated in Fig. 8, withelectrical leads 95 and 96 connected to a suitable source of electriccurrent whereby actuation of a switch 97 will energize the winding 92 toopen the valve 35 for delivery of carbonated water alone. Actuation ofswitch 98 energizes the windings 92 and 93 to open the valves 35 and 69to deliver both carbonated Water and syrup from the syrup container 37,and actuation of the switch 99 energizes the windings 92 and 94 to openthe valves 35 and 73 for delivery of carbonated water and syrup from thesyrup container 38, and actuation of the switch 19 energizes thewindings 20 and 21 for delivery of cold Water alone. The switches arearranged in the circuit whereby when carbonated water and one flavor ofsyrup is being delivered, the windings on the other valves cannot beenergized. Also, it is preferable that the delivery tubes 70 and 74 haveadjustable orifices therein for varying the quantity of syrup deliveredto provide the suitable proportions of the respective syrup andcarbonated water to make the desired palatable drink.

Electrical leads 95 and 96 are also connected to the motor 5 with anormally open switch 100 interposed therein and under control of meansresponsive to the maximum and minimum levels of water in the carbonated.water tank whereby the motor 5 is energized when the level of waterreaches a predetermined minimum and drives the pump 6 until the level ofWater *6 reaches a predetermined maximum at which time the switch ismoved to break the circuit to the motor 5. In the level control circuit,a primary winding 101 of a transformer is connected to the leads 95 and96, said transformer has a secondary winding 102 one side of which isgrounded as at 183. The other side has a lead 104 connected to acondenser 105 and a conductor 106 leads therefrom to a relay 108 havinga winding 109 one side of which is grounded as at 110' and the otherside 107 connected to conductor 106 leading to the condenser 105. Abranch 111 connects conductor 106 with a switch 112 which is operated bythe relay 108 to complete circuits to electrodes 113 and 114 which arein the carbonated water tank, the end of the electrode 113 being nearthe bottom and at the predetermined minimum level of water, theelectrode 114 terminating with its lower end at the predeterminedmaximum level of water whereby current is supplied to the electrode 113through the water to the tank shell that is grounded as at 115. Theswitch 112 is normally in a position to complete a circuit to theelectrode and the resistance of the winding of the relay 108 is suchthat the switch remains in the same position while the water level isabove the lower end of the electrode 113. When the water level lowersbelow the electrode 113 the circuit is broken and the current actuatesthe relay 108 to move the switches 100 and 112 whereby the motor 5 isdriven to supply water to the carbonated water tank until it reaches alevel at the bottom of the electrode 114 to complete a circuittherewith. The flow of current to the electrode 114 and water reducesthe flow of current through the winding 109 and. causes the relay topermit the switcles and 11.2 to returnto normal.

position breaking the circuit to the motor 5.

In using an apparatus constructed and assembled as described, with thehousings 41 and 76 connected and mounted in a cooled space such as aconventional refrigerator or other suitable cabinet, and the gas andliquid supply unit l arranged in some suitable portion of the cabinet orin a position remote thereto for convenience of servicing, the waterline 8- is connected to the source of supply and the electrical leads 95and 96 connected with a source of electric current. The gas cylinder 22is connected to the line 25 and the valve opened. The carbon dioxide gasflows through the reducer regulators 27 and 31 through the flow lines 28and 30 respectively. If the carbonated water tank 13 is empty, theelectric circuit is energized to energize the motor 5 driving the pump 6to pump water under pressure through the flow line 9, coil 10 in thecooled storage unit and then to the carbonated water tank where thecarbon dioxide gas is absorbed to form the carbonated water.

The delivery unit or dispensing head 3 is swung outwardly on the hinge75 to provide access to the front of the housing 41. Filled syrupcontainers 37 and 38 are then placed in the housing 41 in the positionshown in Figs. 2 and 3. Then the delivery unit or dispensing head 3 ishinged upwardly joining the connector members 62 with the connectormembers 66 and the connector members 63 with the connector members 67and 71 respectively, which automatically opens the valves in saidconnector members whereby the low gas pressure from the flow line 30enters the syrup containers 37 and 38 to apply pressure on the syruptherein.

The housing 41 is cooled by the refrigerated air in the compartment 39cooling the water in the coil 10 and in the carbonated water tank 13. Ifplain cold water is desired, a drinking receptacle 86 is placed on theplat. form 89 and the button 91 controlling the switch 19 is moved toclose the circuit to energize the windings 21 and 20, opening the valve15 for flow of Water from the line 9 through the valve 15, branch 19,flow line 9, coil 10, flow line 16 and valve 17 and delivery tube 18whereby the water is delivered to said receptacle. If carbonated wateralone is desired, the switch button 91 connected with the switch.97 isoperated to close the switch to energize the Winding 92 to open thevalve 35 whereby the carbonated water in the carbonated water tank 13flows through the line 34, valve 35 and delivery tube 36. tothereceptacle 86. If carbonated water and syrup from the container 37 isdesired, in the form of a carbonated beverage, the switch 98 is operatedwhereby windings 92 and 93 are energized to open the valves 35 and 69respectively for flow of carbonated water from the carbonated watertank, as just described, and also due to the low pressure gas supplyingpressure to the syrup in the container 37 syrup is forced through thetube 65, connectors 63 and 67, line 68, valve 69 and delivery tube 70for simultaneous delivery with the carbonated water to the receptacle86. If carbonated water and syrup from the container 38 is desired in acarbonated beverage, the switch 99 is operated, energizing the windings92 and 94 for delivery of carbonated water to the receptacle 86 andsimultaneous delivery of syrup through the pressure acting on the syrupin the container 38 forcing same through the connectors 63, 71, tube 72,valve 73, and delivery tube 74 to the receptacle 86.

When a syrup container is empty, the delivery unit or dispensing head 3is hinged outwardly separating the connector members whereby the valvestherein automatically close whereby no syrup or gas can escape from theconnectors. Then the empty syrup can is tipped to disengage the forwardlower portion thereof from the shoulder 55 and pulled from the housing41. A full container is then placed in the housing 41 and the dispensinghead swung upwardly to close the forward end of the housing 41 andreconnect the connector members for continued dispensing of suitablebeverages.

When the water in the carbonated water tank reaches a predetermined lowlevel, the relay 163 is energized completing the circuit to the motor 5to drive the pump 6 to again fill the carbonated water tank. When thegauge 26 indicates the supply of carbon dioxide gas is low, the cylinder22 is removed and a full cylinder reconnected in the system forcontinued operation. As can readily be seen, the cooled liquid storageunit and dispensing head are relatively small, the units compactlyarranged whereby a minimum of usable space in the refrigerator orcabinet is occupied thereby.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, thestructure is substantially the same except that the dispensing head 120and the switch members are arranged as a unit 121 inside of the door 122of a refrigerator 123, and the various flow lines and electricalconnectors are flexible and extend through passages 124 and 125 forconnection with the cooled liquid storage unit 126 located in the cooledcompartment 127 of the refrigerator. Various separable connector membersmay be arranged in the flow lines and electrical conduits leading to andfrom the cooled liquid storage unit whereby the entire unit may beremovable from the compartment and the refrigerator used in a normalmanner. Also, various portions of the apparatus may be combined in amanner to connect with certain of the flow lines to provide only one ormore of the various cold liquids or mixed beverages obtainable from thestructure disclosed in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive.

It is to be understood that while we have illustrated and describedcertain forms of our invention, it is not to be limited to the specificforms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofaras such limitations are included in the claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. An apparatusfor dispensing a cold drink through a dispensing nozzle and formaintaining the component parts of the drink in refrigerated conditionprior to the dispensing operation, a cooled storage unit comprising ahousing having connected bottom, side, top and rear end walls ofmaterial having relatively high heat conductivity, means securing saidhousing in a cold space for maintaining the housing walls in coldcondition, a carbonated Water tank inthe housing adjacent the rear endwall thereof, a water coil around the carbonated Water tank in thehousing and having connection with the carbonated water tank fordelivery of cooled water thereto, a carbonating gas and water supply,means including a pressure regulator connected with the gas supply andcarbonated water tank for supplying gas under pressure to saidcarbonated Water tank, means connected with the water supply fordelivering Water to the Water coil under pressure as cooled water issupplied to the carbonated Water tank, a tank disposed in the housingforwardly of said carbonated Water tank and for storing a syrupcomponent of the mixed, drink a delivery unit removably connected withthe storage unit housing for closing the forward end thereof, a cupsupport on the delivery unit, nozzle supported on the delivery unit fordelivering liquids to a cup on the support, means connecting the gassupply to the syrup containing tank for applying pressure to the syruptherein, means for conveying cooled syrup from the tank to a nozzle inthe delivery unit, means for conveying cooled carbonated water from thecarbonated water tank to a nozzle, means for conveying cooled water fromthe water coil to a nozzle, electrically controlled valves in the syrup,carbonated water and Water conveying means, and switch means in thedelivery unit and connected in circuit with the respective electricallycontrolled valves for selective actuation of same for delivery of therespective liquids to the respective nozzles and cup on the support ofthe delivery unit.

2. An apparatus for dispensing a cold drink through a dispensing nozzleand for maintaining the component parts of the drink in refrigeratedcondition prior to the dispensing operation, a cooled storage unitcomprising a housing having connected bottom, side,,top and rear endwalls of material having relatively high heat conductivity, meanssecuring said housing in a cold space for maintaining the housing wallsin cold condition, a carbonated water tank in the housing adjacent therear end wall thereof, a water coil around the carbonated Water tank inthe housing and having connection with the carbonated water tank fordelivery of cooled water thereto, a carbonating gas and water supply,means including a pressure regulator connected with the gas supply andcarbonated water tank for supplying gas under pressure to saidcarbonated water tank, means connected with the water supply fordelivering water to the water coil under pressure as cooled water issupplied to the carbonated water tank, a tank disposed in the housingfor storing a syrup component of the mixed drink, a delivery unitremovably connected with the storage unit housing for closing theforward end thereof, a cup support on the delivery unit, nozzlessupported on the delivery unit for delivering liquids to a cup on thesupport, means connecting the gas supply to the syrup containing tankfor applying pressure to the syrup therein, means for conveying cooledsyrup from the tank to a nozzle in the delivery unit, means forconveying cooled carbonated water from the carbonated water tank to anozzle, electrically controlled valves in the syrup, and carbonatedwater conveying means, switch means in the delivery unit and connectedin circuit with the respective electrically controlled valves forselective actuation of same for delivery of the respective liquids tothe respective nozzles and cup on the support of the delivery unit, andcut-off mechanism in the conveying means of gas and liquid to and fromthe syrup tank for stopping flow therein when the delivery unit isremoved from the storage unit housing.

3. An apparatus for dispensing a cold drink through a dispensing nozzleand for maintaining the component parts of the drink in refrigeratedcondition prior to the dispensing operation, a cooled storageunit'comprising a housing having connected bottom, side, top and rearend walls of material having relatively high heat conductivity, meanssecuring said housing in a cold space for maintaining the housing wallsin cold condition, a carbonated water tank in the housing adjacent therear end wall thereof, a water coil in the housing and having connectionwith the carbonated water tank for delivery of cooled water thereto, acarbonating gas and water supply, means including a pressure regulatorconnected with the gas supply and carbonated water tank for supplyinggas under pressure to said carbonated water tank, means connected withthe water supply for delivering water to the water coil under pressureas cooled water is supplied to the carbonated water tank, a plurality oftanks disposed in the housing for storing syrup components of the mixeddrinks, means retaining the syrup tanks in the housing with one wall ofeach facing the forward end of the housing, a delivery unit removablyconnected with the storage unit housing for closing the forward endthereof, a cup support on the delivery unit, nozzles supported on thedelivery unit for delivering liquids to a cup on the support, ductsextending into the delivery unit from the gas supply, ducts in thedelivery unit for conveying cooled syrup from the tanks to therespective nozzles in the delivery unit, separable connector members onthe delivery unit and forwardly facing walls of the syrup tanks andconnected in the gas and syrup ducts whereby said connector members arejoined when the delivery unit is in position closing the forward end ofthe housing, said separable connector members each having valves thereinautomatically closing the ducts when the delivery unit is removed fromthe housing, means for conveying cooled carbonated water from thecarbonated water tank to a nozzle, means for conveying cooled water fromthe water coil to a nozzle, electrically controlled valves in the syrupducts, carbonated water and water conveying means, and switch means inthe delivery unit and connected in circuit with the respectiveelectrically controlled valves for selective actuation of same fordelivery of the respective liquids to the respective nozzles and cup onthe support of the delivery unit.

4. An apparatus for dispensing a cold drink through a dispensing nozzleand for maintaining the component parts of the drink in refrigeratedcondition prior to the dispensing operation, a cooled storage unitcomprising a housing having connected bottom, side, top and rear endwalls of material having relatively high heat conductivity, meanssecuring said housing in a cold space for maintaining the housing wallsin cold condition, a carbonated water tank in the housing adjacent therear end wall thereof, a water reservoir in the housing and havingconnection with the carbonated water tank for delivery of cooled waterthereto, a carbonating gas and water supply, means including a pressureregulator connected with the gas supply and carbonated water tank forsupplying gas under pressure to said carbonated water tank, meansconnected with the water supply for delivering water to the waterreservoir under pressure as cooled water is supplied to the carbonatedwater tank, a plurality of tanks disposed in the housing for storingsyrup components of the mixed drinks, means retaining the syrup tanks inthe housing with one wall of each facing the forward end of the housing,a delivery unit re- 'movably connected with the storage unit housing forclosing the forward end thereof, a cup support on the delivery unit,nozzles supported on the delivery unit for delivering liquids to a cupon the support, ducts extending into the delivery unit from the gassupply, ducts in the delivery unit for conveying cooled syrup from thetanks to the respective nozzles in the delivery unit, separableconnector members on the delivery unit and forwardly facing walls of thesyrup tanks and connected in the gas and syrup ducts whereby saidconnector members are joined when the delivery unit is in positionclosing the forward end of the housing, said separable connector memberseach having valves therein automatically closing the ducts when thedelivery unit is removed from the housing, means for conveying cooledcarbonated water from the carbonated water tank to a nozzle, means forconveying cooled water from the water reservoir to a nozzle,electrically controlled valves in the syrup ducts, carbonated water andwater conveying means, switch means in the delivery unit and connectedin circuit with the respective electrically controlled valves forselective actuation of same for delivery of the respective liquids tothe respective nozzles and cup on the support of the delivery unit, andmeans interconnecting the electrically controlled valves in the syrupducts with the electrically controlled valve in the carbonated waterconveying means whereby operation of the switches controlling deliveryof syrup simultaneously effects delivery of carbonated water to the cup.

5. In a refrigerator having a door for access to a cold storage space,an apparatus for dispensing a cold drink through a dispensing nozzle andfor maintaining the component parts of the drink in refrigeratedcondition prior to the dispensing operation, a cooled storage unitcomprising, a housing having connected bottom, side, top and rear endwalls of material having relatively high heat conductivity, meanssupporting said housing in the cold storage space of the refrigeratorwhereby the housing walls are maintained in cold condition, said housingbeing positioned with the front open end toward the refrigerator door, acarbonated water tank in the housing adjacent the rear end wall thereof,a carbonating gas and water supply, means connecting the gas supply tothe carbonated water tank for supplying carbonating gas thereto, meansconnecting the water supply to the carbonated water tank for delivery ofwater thereto, a plurality of syrup tanks in the housing forwardly ofthe carbonated water tank with said syrup tanks side by side with onewall of each facing the front end of said housing, means in the housingremovably supporting said syrup tanks, interengaging means on said syruptanks and housing holding said tanks against unintentional movement, adelivery unit removably connected to the storage unit housing andnormally closing the front end thereof, nozzles supported on thedelivery unit for delivering liquids therefrom, ducts extending into thedelivery unit from the gas supply, syrup tanks and carbonated watertank, means in said ducts automatically closing same when the deliveryunit is removed from housing closing position, and means includingvalves in the syrup and carbonated water ducts for controlling deliveryof said syrup and carbonated water from the nozzles in the deliveryunit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,518,299 Fernandez Aug. 8, 1950 2,648,274 Bendfelt Aug. 11, 19532,749,096 Cole June 5, 1956

